Humidifier



July 7, 1936.

A. c. GILBERT HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 24, 1931 3 Shets-Sheet 1 'Juiy 7, QERT 2,047,025

HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- h 1936- A. c GILBERT2,047,025

HUMIDIF'IER Filed Oct. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gave-T01 Patented July7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER Application October 24,193i, Serial No. states This invention relates to improvements inhumidifiers, and more particularly to humidifiers of the portable typeemployed for conditioning air in homes, omces, etc.

a The principal object of this invention is to generally improvehumidifiers of the portable type and to bring about a compact, emcientand substantially noiseless mechanism of comparatively simpleconstruction, and of pleasing exlll ternal appearance.

Another object is to bring about an improved form of humidifier in whichthe usual noise produced by the movable parts and the liquid containedtherein is eliminated.

it A feature of the invention resides in an improved form of humidifierwherein swirling and splashing of the liquid contained therein isprevented, and the vapor produced is rapidly discged without the usualswirling motion.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a humidifier embodying the features ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line t-t of Fig. l, but on an enlargedscale;

Fig. i is a sectional view on line of Fig. 1,

an looking in the direction of the arrows, but somewhat enlarged;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a somewhat modified form of ahumidifier; A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of a at humidifier;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another modified form of humidifier, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of still another modifled form of humidifier.

ill The portable humidifier illustrated in the drawings is suitable foruse in the home or omce and may be placed upon a table or stand andoperated when desired to coridition the air in respect to its moisturecontent. In some instances,

45 such humidifiers are useful in hospitals for the vaporization ofmedical preparations. The humidifier is provided with a base it ofpottery or other moldable material and may have decorations molded uponits exterior to present a pleas- 5il ing appearance. The base i ii isprovided with an upstanding side l l which at its upper edge is providedwith an internally directed rib l2 forming a shoulder upon which a sheetmetal cover plate it is supported, the plate extending inwardly over 55-base it. The rib I2 is provided with a down- (El. 2619ll) wardlydirected lip ll spaced inwardly from the side i l, and acting as asplash guard for the liquid contained in the base. The side it extendsupwardly beyond. the shoulder l2 and supports a generally cone-shapedcover ill, which at its apex p is provided with an open mouth.

Openings ll in plate it permits condensed liquid vapor and the liquidbeing poured into the base through the open mouth it of cover lb, todrain into the base it. The base it may be also no filled by removingthe cover l b and pouring liquid through the openings ii. A float itsupported upon the surface of the liquid, actuates an indicating fingerit which rides over a plate it to indicate the level of the liquidcontained in base w ill. A baffle or bames ti on the under side of coverit extend downwardly into the base it, bafiles ll being radiallydisposed to obstruct the movement of the liquid contained therein andprevent whirling thereof and thus the formation w of a vortex whichwould interfere with the efficient operation of the atomizing mechanism.

The cover plate it is provided at its center portion with an opening itin which a downwardly directed flange it of a tray it is disposed, the25 bottom edge of the flange it being directed inwardly to form anannular shoulder it. The upper edge of the flange it is directedoutwardly to form a shoulder it, which seats upon cover plate it. Thematerial of tray t l is directed upwardly and flared outwardly from theshouldei it and receives a generally cone-shaped tray cover El,

' which extends upwardly from the flared-out portion of tray it. At itsapex, the tray cover it is provided with an open mouth 2t and the coverextends upwardly and beyond the open mouth it of cover it at this point,a baflie member 29 being,

in this instance, disposed in the mouth opening it of tray cover N, withits wings ill fitting snugly within the same, and preventing theupwardly m flowing vapor from whirling within the cover 2i and as itleaves the opening it.

Grid it is formed by striking out a series of fins 32 from the materialof a vertically disposed flange t3, the lower edge of the flange seatingupon shoulder 25 of the tray 2d. The material at the upper edge offlange it is extended inwardly to form a shoulder it and then upwardlyto form an annular fiange it, while the material at the upper edge ofthe flange it is extended inan wardly to form a plate-like support itfor a motor 317. An opening it is provided in the support it throughwhich a motor shaft it passes. A motor cover or casing id is provided inthe form of an inverted cup-shaped member which fits snugly t aboutfiange 35 and seats upon shoulder 34. The baffle 29 may seat upon thedome-shaped top 4| of the motor casing 40.

A motor shaft bearing plate 42 is provided having depending pins 43which are covered with rubber tubing 44 and pass through resilientbushings 45, preferably made of rubber, the bushings 45 being disposedin openings in the motor support plate 36-. A disk 46 and a cone-shapedmember 41 are secured to the lower end of shaft 39, the disk beingdisposed laterally in line with the fins 32 and the cone 41 extendingdownwardly into base In with its lower end immersed in the liquidcontained therein. A fan 43 is mounted upon the upper end of the motorshaft 39 and operates to circulate the air within the casing 40 andassist in maintaining the motor cool.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, the coneshaped tray cover 50 isprovided with a. baffle or baflies 5| which may be disposed upon theinner surface of the cover 53, between the latter and motor cover 52 inthe path of the upwardly flowing vapor to prevent the vapor fromwhirling.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6, the cover 55 is provided with aseries of openings 55 formed in its lower edge through which air maypass into the humidifier. In this instance, tray cover 21 and b'aflles29 have been omitted and a wing or wings 51 is formed upon the innerwall of cover 55, the wings 51 .being preferably directed radiallyinwardly and with a comparatively long inclined lower edge 58, theinclined lower edge 58 preventing the formation of drops from condensedvapor which is directed thereby out of the path of the upwardly flowingvapor. In this instance, the open mouth 59 of cover 55 acts as theoutlet for the vapor instead of, as in the previously described form, aninlet for the air.

In the modified form shown in Fig. '7, the means for preventing swirlingof the vapor is formed by providing a bailie or baiiles fill upon'a ring6|. The ring 6| is adapted to snugly fit the motor cover 62, and thewing-like baffles 60 extend radially outwardly from the ring into thepath of the upwardly flowing vapor. The baffle 60 obviously could bedirectly formed or secured to motor cover 62 but the provision of a ring5| permits ready detachability therefor.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 8, the means for preventing swirlingof the vapor is formed by providing a bafile or baffles 10 upon a ring1|. The ring 1| is adapted to pass over the motor cover 12, and thewing-like baffles 10 extend radially outwardly therefrom into the pathof the upwardly flowing vapor. The baffles 10, in this instance, extendupwardly between the motor cover 12 and the outer cover 13 and radiallyoutwardly to engage the flared-out portion of tray 14, the latterserving to support the baflles.

The humidifiers described above operate to atomize the liquid stored intheir bases l0, and to discharge the vapors so formed through their topsand into the surrounding atmosphere. In that form shown inFigs. 1 to 4inclusive, of the drawings, the liquid in base I0 is fed upwardly to thedisk 46 by the inverted cone-shaped member 41. The liquid is drawnacross the undersurface of the disk 46 and is thrown violently therefromagainst the fins 32 by the centrifugal force generated by the rapidrotation of disk 46 by motor 31, fins 32 serving to atomize the liquid.Air drawn into the device by the action of the disk 46 fiows downwardlyfrom the open mouth l3 of cover I5 through openings II in plate I 3 intothe base In. It is then drawn upwardly, by the suction created by theaction of disk 46, and is forced through the grid and mixes with thevapor and assists in the upward movement thereof.

The rapid rotation of cone 41 in the liquid in. base I0 tends to swirlthe liquid and cause a vortex to form adjacent the lower end of cone 41.This action would draw the liquid out of contact with the cone andinterrupt the flow of liquid to the atomizing disk 46. The bailles 2|,extend into the liquid from plate l3 and prevent the formation of avortex about cone 41 by resisting the swirling action of the liquid. Aconstant flow of vapor is, therefore, maintained until substantially allof the liquid in base ID has been atomized.

The rapid rotation of disk 46 tends to swirl the vapor and air mixturepassing upwardly from grid 3| through tray cover 21. Such action tendsto trap the vapor within the tray cover and resist its upward flow anddischarge therefrom. Any retention of the vapor within the tray cover 21increases condensation and reduces the efficiency of the humidifier. Abaflle or baflles, such as 29 in Fig. 3, 5| in Fig. 5, 51 in Fig. 6, 60in Fig. 7, and Min Fig. 8, resists the tendency of the vapor to swirland greatly assists in the rapid discharge of the same from the top ofthe humidifier. In the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the baffies orwings 5| and 5'! respectively act to prevent the vapor from swirling ata point in the device where such action substantially starts, while thebaffle 29 shown in Fig. 3, interrupts the swirling after it has startedand directs the vapor upwardly. By insuring a continuous upward flow ofvapor and a more rapid discharge thereof from the humidifier, lesscondensation takes place within the covers and more vapor is, therefore,emitted, and the device may be operated during shorter periods of timeto accomplish maximum results.

The provision of an outer cover, and especially one made of pottery orlike material, dampens the motor vibration noises and the swish of theliquid being atomized to such an extent that the same are substantiallyeliminated and the operation of the humidifier is practically noiseless.By forming the parts of the humidifier, such as the grid 3| and the tray24 to permit their use for various purposes, such as supports andengaging elements, as well as in the instance of the grid member as anelement of the liquid atomizing means, the structure is simplified andthe manufacturing costs reduced.

The provision of a suitable baille or bailles for the liquid to preventthe swirling thereof and thereby increase the range of operation andinsure continuous atomization of the liquid, and the provision of thebaiile or baflles for resisting the swirling of the vapor after the sameis generated, whereby it is more efiiciently and rapidly discharged withless condensation taking place during its upward flow, greatly increasesthe efiiciency of a device of this type and permits a more economicaloperation thereof.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that the same is not to be limited tothe details shown but is capable of modification and variation withinthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a humidifier, a liquid supply receiving receptacle, a removablecover plate for said receptacle, a tray supported by said cover plate, aliquid atomizing element supported by said tray and having a motorsupporting member, a motor supported on said member, a cover over saidmotor and supported by said atomizing element, a, cover for said traysurrounding said motor cover and .spaced therefrom, a rotary atomizingelement said member, a cover over said motor and supported by saidatomizing element, a second cover extending over said tray and saidmotor cover, and spaced from the latter to provide a vapor passagewaycommunicating to the atmosphere without said device, baflie meansdisposed in said passageway between said motor cover and said secondcover to prevent swirling -of the vapor passing therebetween, a rotaryatomizing element .drivingly connected to said motor, a rotary liquidfeeding member depending from said rotary atomizing element into saidreceptacle 'to engage the liquid therein.

3. In a humidifier, a liquid supply receiving receptacle, a cover platefor said receptacle, a tray supported by said cover plate, a liquidatomizing element supported by said tray and having a motor supportingmember, a motor supported on said member, a cover over said motor andsupported by said atomizing element, a second cover over said tray andsaid motor cover, and spaced from the latter to provide a vaporpassageway communicating to the atmosphere without said device, baiiiemeans disposed in the passageway between said motor cover and saidsecond cover to prevent swirling of the vapor passing therebetween, arotary atomizing element drivingly, connected to said motor, a rotaryliquid feeding member depending from said rotary atomizing element intosaid receptacle to engage the liquid therein, and liquid bafiling meansin said receptacle to resist swirling of the liquid therein.

4. In a humidifier, a liquid supply receiving receptacle, a cover platefor said receptacle, a tray supported by said cover plate, a liquidatomizing element supported by said tray and having a motor supportingmember, a motor supported on said member, a cover over said motor andsupported by said atomizing element, a cover for said tray surroundingsaid motor cover and spaced therefrom, a rotary atomizing elementdrivingly connected to said motor, and a rotary liquid feed" ing memberdepending from said rotary atomizing element into said receptacle toengage the liquid therein, an outer cover supported by said receptacleand spaced from and surrounding said tray cover, said receptacle andsaid outer cover being formed from noise dampening material such aspottery.

5. In a humidifier, a liquid supply receiving receptacle, a cover platefor said receptacle, a tray supported by said cover plate, a liquidatomizing element supported by said tray and having a motor supportingmember, a motor supported on said member, a cover over said motor andsupported by said atomizing element, an outer cover over said coverplate said tray and said motor cover, and spaced from the latter toprovide a vapor passageway communicating to the atmosphere without saiddevice, a rotary atomizing ele-= ment drivingly connected to said motor,and a rotary liquid feeding member depending from said rotary atomizingelement into said receptacle to engage the liquid therein, saidreceptacle and said outer cover being formed of noise dampen- 5 ingmaterial such as pottery.

6. In a humidifier, a liquid supply receiving receptacle, a cover platefor said receptacle, a tray supported by said cover plate, a liquidatomizing element supported by said tray and having 10 a motorsupporting member, a motor supported on said member, a cover over saidmotor and supported by said atomizing element, an outer cover over saidtray and said motor cover, and spaced from the latter to provide a vaporpassageway communicating to the atmosphere without said device, bafllemeans disposed in said passageway between said motor cover and saidouter cover to prevent swirling of the vapor passing therethrough, arotary atomizing element drivingly connected to said motor, a rotaryliquid feeding member depending from said rotary atomizing element intosaid receptacle to engage the liquid therein, and a liquid bafflingmeans in said receptacle to resist swirling of the liquid therein, saidreceptacle and said outer cover being formed of noise dampening materialsuch as pottery.

7, In a humidifier, liquid supply means, rotary liquid atomizing means,a motor for rotating said atomizing means, a cover over said motor,another cover over said motor cover and spaced outwardly therefrom, saidsecond cover having an opening in the top thereof over said motor coverproviding a. passageway for vapor generated by said atomizing means, andan outer casing of vibration dampening material over said last-namedcover and spaced therefrom to provide an air passage therebetween.

8. In a humidifier, liquid supply means, rotary liquid atomizing means,a motor for rotating said atomizing means, a dome-shaped cover over saidmotor, another cover over said motor cover and spaced outwardlytherefrom providing a passageway for vapor generated by said atomizingmeans, said second cover having an upwardly opened circular mouthportion disposed above the upper surface of said motor cover, and bafilemeans resting upon the upper surface of and extending upwardly from saidmotor cover and into the open mouth portion of said second cover, saidbaflle means comprising a part having a plurality of vertically disposedblade portions radiating from each other toward the peripheral walls ofthe circular mouth portion of said second cover and positioned in placeupon said motor cover thereby.

9. In a humidifier, liquid supply means, rotary liquid atomizing means,a motor for driving said atomizing means, a cover over said motor, acover over said motor cover and peripherally spaced 60 therefrom to forma space therebetween to re-- ceive and guide atomized liquid upwardly,and another cover over the second mentioned cover and peripherallyspaced therefrom to form a space therebetween to receive and guide air65 downwardly, both of said last mentioned covers having an upwardlyopening mouth portion disposed above said motor cover.

10. In a humidifier, a receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, saidcover having a baffle ex- 7 tending downwardly therefrom into saidreceptacle, said cover having an opening therein, liquid atomizing meanssupported by said cover and having a portion thereof extending into saidreceptacle through the opening in said cover, 75

means supported by said receptacle to guide air downwardly into thesame, and means supported by said cover to guide atomized liquidupwardly and away from said receptacle.

11. In a humidifier, a shallow liquid receptacle, a cover for saidreceptacle having a relatively large central aperture therein, liquidatomizing means supported by said cover adjacent the rim of saidaperture and having a portion projecting through. said aperturedownwardly into the liquid in said receptacle to raise such liquid uponrotation oi said portion, and baiiie members carried by and extendingdownwardly from said cover into the liquid in said receptacle to preventswirling thereof, said baflle members extending in the direction of theperiphery of said receptacle and being located in the zone between theperiphery of said aperture and the periphery of the receptacle.

12. A humidifier comprising a reservoir to contain water, said reservoirhaving an opening in its top, a base ring surrounding said opening, abasin, having a cover with an outlet neck, concentric with said ring, adome resting on said ring and surrounding said basin and cover, andmeans at the center 0! said basin and its cover causing the contents ofthe reservoir to be drawn therefrom and discharged into the basin.

